We can set the placeholder for fields in online case form by script.
Template:
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Nunito+Sans" rel="stylesheet">
<div class="col-sm-12 col-md-6 textfield">
<div class="control-group ">
<label class="control-label" for="firstname"> </label>
<NLFIRSTNAME>
</NLFIRSTNAME>
</div>
</div>
<div class="col-sm-12 col-md-6 textfield">
<div class="control-group">
<label class="control-label" for="lastname"> </label>
<NLLASTNAME>
</NLLASTNAME>
</div>
</div>
<script>
$(function () {
$('#firstname').attr("placeholder", "*First Name");
$('#lastname').attr("placeholder", "*Last Name",);
})
</script>